"William McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, in the small town of Niles, Ohio. He
lived there until age ten, when he moved with his family to nearby Poland, Ohio.
His loving family provided William Jr., the seventh of eight children, with a
fun-filled childhood that was also carefully guided by his parents. Like most
young boys, he spent his childhood fishing, hunting, ice skating, horseback
riding, and swimming. His father owned a small iron foundry and instilled in
young William a strong work ethic and a respectful attitude. Nancy Allison
McKinley, his devoutly religious mother, taught him the value of prayer,
courtesy, and honesty in all dealings.
At 34, McKinley won a seat in Congress. His attractive personality, exemplary
character, and quick intelligence enabled him to rise rapidly. He was appointed
to the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Robert M. La Follette,
Sr., who served with him, recalled that he generally "represented the newer view," and "on the great new questions .. was generally on the side of the public and against private interests."During his 4 years in the House, he became the leading Republican tariff expert, giving his name to the measure enacted in 1890. The next year he was elected Governor of Ohio, serving two terms. " (Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia 2012)
http://millercenter.org/president/mckinley/essays/biography/2
"Only the United States could have produced a national leader like Theodore Roosevelt. From his birth in 1858 to his death in 1919, he lived life as fully and vigorously as almost any other human being. He was a man of enormous talents, widespread interests and huge appetites. Physically and intellectually vigorous, he participated in athletic and sporting adventures for most of his days, wrote books and articles throughout his life and claimed to have read a book every day. He dominated political life in New York, the nation and the world, social events both formal and informal, and his family. He was admired and feared, hated and loved, sometimes by the same people at different times. He bored people to tears but also kept them rollicking with laughter. He was kind and gentle but also ferocious and, as some claimed, “completely mad.” He became president by accident, was reelected overwhelmingly, and as a third party candidate in yet another presidential election, he got the highest percentage vote of any third-party candidate in history, out polling the incumbent President of the United States." (2010, Henry J. Sage)
http://www.academicamerican.com/progressive/topics/progressive.html
http://www.academicamerican.com/progressive/topics/progressive.html